How to De-Clutter Stress-Free

If you’ve read my de-clutter-a-thon posts, you’ve probably figured out that I really don’t like de-cluttering a whole bunch at once. It’s just too overwhelming for me to de-clutter for more than an hour or so. Especially on the things that are a little more difficult to get rid of. You know, the dress I haven’t worn in over a year but it *might* be the perfect outfit for the next occasion 😉

That’s why I love this simple approach to stress-free de-cluttering of my home. With these easy rules, de-cluttering is a much more manageable process.

One Area at a Time

It doesn’t need to be a big area, either. One drawer, cabinet, shelf, or basket will do. It takes a little more time in the long run, but if you’re not overwhelmed it’s much easier to finish the process.

A Few Things at a Time

If the area is a major clutter collector and you know that a ton of things need to be cleaned out, take five minutes and find 5 – 10 things to throw away, donate, or move to their actual home. With just a few items to start with, you might even be inspired to keep going!

For an Hour at a Time

All day de-cluttering is just not really an option for me. If it takes over an hour I pretty much shut down and nothing else gets done. I good way to combat that is to set a timer and see how much you can get done in that amount of time. But then once it goes off you’re done and can move on with your day.

Keep it Organized

Before you start de-cluttering do just a little bit of prep work: have a small, dedicated space for donation items, have a trash bag handy, make sure there’s a basket or something nearby to collect items that go in a different part of the house.

Another good idea is to turn on something to pass the time and help you focus. For example, you could turn on some music or a podcast to listen to while you’re cleaning out.

Make it a Habit

Getting into the habit of de-cluttering a little bit at a time is what will make the biggest impact in the long haul. If you make it a habit to de-clutter for 15 minutes a few times a week, it won’t seem like such a big deal and your home will be kept clutter-free.

When you make these simple steps into habits, it really takes the overwhelm out of de-cluttering your home. Focusing on just a little bit at a time and then being done for the day can keep you from getting burned out and only getting halfway through the house.

This method has worked well for me and I hope you too can use it to become clutter-free!

Free Ultimate DeCluttering Checklist

Download a copy of my ultimate decluttering checklist to start simplifying your life.

When I set that timer that you mentioned, I have my kids do it to and compete against me for amount decluttered in the time on the timer. I never last a whole hour, so maybe 15 – 30 minutes here!Kristy recently posted…Don’t Trust the Lies Told on Facebook

I’m totally with you on keeping organized!
Always make sure everything has a destination, because with the cluttered areas of your house, chances are the things without a destination are the things that ended up there to begin with!
A lot of the time “for now” turns into “forever” just a little too quickly;)
Thanks for the great tips!Julia @ Real Mommy recently posted…How To Take Amazing Pictures Of Your Kids

Great post. My home is in dire need of some decluttering. We often receive things people pass down to us; like clothes, toys, housewares. It always feels good to get hot spots and eye sores back under control. I will be focusing more on this during Lent. Less clutter = less for me to clean! 🙂Melanie recently posted…Fabulously Fun Fridays (January 30th Edition)

I love this!!! I used to be a pack rat, but now I get alot more joy from decluttering! 🙂 I am going to keep these tips in mind for even more motivation. I used to have a chronic illness and I started praying about getting my house organized. As I got better, I also began tackling one thing at a time. I like it so much better than pulling out too much and wanting to quit in the middle!Kristie recently posted…Fun Valentine’s Day Ideas for Moms

I’ve totally been there pulling out too much and ready to quit before it’s done! I decided there had to be a better way 🙂 Glad you stopped by!Laura recently posted…How to Create a Reading Plan That Works

Last year I went through a major purge of my home. I got rid of so much stuff and got rid of most of it on Freecycle.org. The only area that’s left is my attic and I’m planning on tackling that this spring before a major yard sale. These were good tips to avoid the overwhelm.Maureen @ A Debt Free Stress Free Life recently posted…5 Ways To Use Your Swiffer® When You Vacuum

Great tips, Laura! I can’t stand clutter, so I can always use more ideas for keeping it at bay. I definitely think going one room at a time makes a huge difference!Leesha @ Living Contently recently posted…5 Simple & Frugal Ways to Improve Your Love Life

So glad you liked the tips! De-cluttering one area/room at a time seems to be a major key in keeping the clutter away. Thanks for stopping by!Laura recently posted…How to Create a Reading Plan That Works

I’m blessed to have a husband who loves organization. He’s inspired me to get more organized! My desk still needs help, but the rest of the house is in good shape. Your tips are perfect. They really work!Deb Wolf recently posted…Don’t Neglect the Love You Have (Link Party)

Decluttering daily in our small house with 3 kids is a must. We make sure we do a quick pack away before we all sit down to dinner 🙂 even the bubba helps (she is actually quite good at it!) Thankyou for some extra ideas. oxoxBreanna recently posted…How The Desire Map & Kemari Changed Me

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